To One who Might have Borne a Message

Name: To One who Might have Borne a Message
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on the speaker's regret and longing for a lost love, who has passed away two years prior. The speaker expresses a desire to communicate messages to this deceased figure through a messenger. The opening lines convey a sense of missed opportunity, emphasizing the emotional weight of unexpressed feelings. As the poem progresses, the speaker contemplates the nature of their love, suggesting that it is both profound and complex, despite outward appearances. The imagery of the deceased as a "young thin girl" dressed in specific colors evokes a vivid memory, highlighting the speaker's nostalgia and the enduring impact of this love on their life. The speaker acknowledges the superficial reasons they once provided for their affection, revealing a deeper truth about the connection they shared. The shadow of the lost love looms large in the speaker's daily existence, indicating that the memory of this person continues to influence their thoughts and emotions. Ultimately, the poem captures the themes of love, loss, and the desire for connection, illustrating how the past can haunt the present. The speaker's regret for not being able to convey messages underscores the enduring nature of love, even in the face of death. The work encapsulates the complexity of human emotions and the lingering presence of those we have loved and lost.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1921 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 189 words

First lines

Had I known that you were going I would have given you messages for her, Now two years dead, Whom I shall always love.

As it is, should she entreat you how it goes with me, You must reply: as well as with most, you fancy;

That I love easily, and pass the time.

And she will not know how all day long between My life and me her shadow intervenes, A young thin girl, Wearing a white skirt and a purple sweater And a narrow pale blue ribbon about her hair.

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To One who Might have Borne a Message is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1921 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Modernism, Narrative Poetry
Length: 189 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — Themes of love, loss, and longing align with Romantic ideals.
Elegy — The work mourns the loss of a loved one, fitting the elegiac tradition.
Modernism — The poem's introspective style and focus on personal experience reflect modernist tendencies.